Last June, Daniel Hudson suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee that caused him to miss the remainder of the season and took away one of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ most effective relief pitchers.
The original hope was Hudson would be ready for 2023 Opening Day, but then it was pushed back to near the end of April due to continued issues with knee pain and right ankle tendinitis. Hudson was then transferred to the 60-day injured list, which pushed his timeline into June.
The issue holding Hudson back recently was strictly the left knee as the ankle is no longer giving him issues, which prompted the veteran to be administered a cortisone injection.
“It was more inflammation and tendinitis in the patella area where they took the graft from,” Hudson said. “It was just kind of bugging me a little bit and hampering me toward the end of camp. Tried to push through it and just couldn’t get over the hump. So we got a little bit aggressive with the injection, and it’s feeling better now.”
Hudson is now feeling better following the cortisone shot to the point where he is set to resume throwing. He is hopeful that was the boost needed to turn a corner and begin working his way toward a return to the Dodgers bullpen.
“I hope so. We’ll find out in the next couple weeks,” Hudson said. “I’m supposed to start ramping up the throwing program, facing hitters and stuff.”
Hudson went 2-3 with a 2.22 ERA, 2.05 FIP and 0.90 WHIP over 25 games prior to the knee injury last season. He was expected to be an important piece for the bullpen in 2023 and he should take over in a high-leverage role, potentially as the team’s primary closer, if he returns this year.
Daniel Hudson at Dodger Stadium
Hudson came back to L.A. to be with the team at Dodger Stadium after he had been rehabbing in Arizona. But the plan is for him just to be with the team for a few days before returning to Camelback Ranch, which will potentially include facing hitters over the weekend.
“Huddy, it was more of just getting him back at Dodger Stadium so we could put eyes on him,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And getting him re-connected with his teammates, that’s a good thing.”
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